P. Hoover - Solstice

Which makes me want to see it more. Does he really think I’m so weak I can’t handle it? “It’s part of your world. You said you’d show me.”

“Not Tartarus. Not this time.”

He drops it, so I drop it. And soon, we’re on the other side.

Shayne slides up to a dock, implanted in the thick ice, and gestures with his arm to the shore—to the people there. “Piper, this is paradise.”

Every single person in the Elysian Fields looks like it’s the best day of their lives. I guess really it would be the best day of their deaths, since everyone here is dead. But if a single person is sad about being dead, they aren’t showing it. I spot three beach volleyball games, at least fifteen couples making out, and enough sandcastles being built, it’s like an entire kingdom made of sand. And all I can think about is how much Chloe would love it here. We could play on the beach and not have to worry about the scorching sun overhead.

But I wouldn’t be here with her, and I don’t want her to leave me.

“So what does it take to get here?” I know billions of people have died over the course of history, but paradise isn’t that crowded. There must be some sort of entry requirements.

Shayne laughs. “Well, getting on my good side can’t hurt.”

I tilt my head, trying to look sweet. “Am I on your good side?”

Shayne brushes my cheek with the back of his hand. “Definitely.”

I motion with my hand at the beach. “And all these people got on your good side?”

“Sort of.” Shayne links my arm, and we start walking on the long dock. It’s slick with the frozen ice of the river, but my booted feet grip the grainy wood underneath. “It’s the people who’ve done something to help others that mostly get here. The ones who don’t only think of themselves.” He turns, and his eyes meet mine. “People like Chloe.”

I nod but don’t trust myself to answer. Even if this is paradise, it’s not time for Chloe to die. She can live the rest of her life, and then, when she’s old and gray, we can come to the Elysian Fields together.

I step down from the dock, and my feet warm at once, making my boots unnecessary. It seems the boundary between the icy cold of Cocytus and the warmth of the Elysian Fields is immediate. I look at Shayne. “So…”

He looks back. “So what?”

I motion down at my clothes: the jeans, boots, and coat. “Are you going to change my clothes again?”

He gives me a look which makes me want to both kiss him and punch him in the stomach at the same time. “Are you coming on to me?” he says.

I start to pull off the coat. “Whatever.” I wonder what I have on underneath the clothes, but I never get the chance to find out. Shayne waves his arm again, and I’m back in my tank top and shorts.

I close my eyes and let the heat of the two suns warm my skin. Shayne walks over to me and touches my arm, brushing my tattoo, and a chill runs down my body.

The tattoo catches my eye. It looks lighter, like it’s vanishing, but the skin is still raised underneath.

“It’s fading.” I’m not sure what it means. “Is Chloe—?”

“—fine.” Shayne rubs the tattoo again, and the color returns, each Greek letter darkening at his touch. “She’s just like we left her. I gave you my word.”

I stare at the tattoo. “Have we been gone long?” Is the fading a bad sign for her? Is she dying—again?

But Shayne shakes his head. “No time has passed.” He holds my chin with his thumb and forefinger, and his eyes meet my own. In his eyes, red flashes within the chocolate brown.

“Thank you,” I say. His words settle the lump that’s been surfacing in my throat every time I think of Chloe. The image of her and the horrible, beautiful winged man.

“Piper!”

I turn at the sound of the voice, and I see a child running toward me on the beach. She’s wearing shorts and a T-shirt, and her long brown hair trails after her as she runs.

“Charlotte?”

She laughs, and when she reaches me, I let go of Shayne and grab her into a giant hug because I can’t really believe she’s here. She was my best friend from childhood, but Leukemia came along with a fury and took her away from me in sixth grade. But now that she’s here, I never want to let her go.

“Piper! You’re so pretty. So grown up.”

“Charlotte…” I’m not sure what to say. I feel like I’m back six years ago, running around, watering plants in our shop. We were inseparable—my mom even approved, and then Charlotte left me. Like Chloe almost left me today. “I’m so sorry.”

Charlotte pulls back from me and reaches up to my eyes. “Piper, you’re crying.” Her face is soft, and her hand moves up and touches her mouth as if she’s trying to make sense of my words.

I realized I haven’t been clear. “You were so young. You had your whole life ahead of you. And then it was over. Just like that.”

Charlotte’s face lights up, and her smile returns. “Don’t cry, Piper. I’m so happy. Even my dog is here with me.” And on cue, the Yorkie she used to have is next to her, pawing at her leg for attention.

I scratch him behind the ears. “Remember how sad we were when he died?”

Charlotte shakes her head. “He never died, Piper. He’s here. See?”

It takes me a few seconds to process her words, and I realize she only remembers good things about life.

I bend down, and Charlotte wipes my cheeks, and I gather her again into a hug. “Everyone missed you so much. You had the loveliest funeral. It was perfect.” I think of her funeral, the only one I’ve ever been to. I told my mom I’d seen Charlotte there, up by the altar. Like a ghost and an angel blended into one. So small, but shining and looking right at me.

My mom told me I’d imagined it, and she made me promise never to talk about it again.

“Your parents missed you, Charlotte. Everyone did. Even my mom.” I’m rambling now, but I want her to know how much I cared. What an impact she had on my life. If not for Charlotte, I may never have had a true friend before Chloe. And seeing Charlotte, I know I can’t let Chloe go, even though I know Chloe would be happy here. I may be the most selfish person in the planet, but she’s the only friend I have.

But Charlotte shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Shayne. “Humans can’t escape death. The best they can hope for is to leave their sorrows behind at the River Acheron and come to live here,” he says

I look around at the world I’ve come into and wonder what Charlotte’s sorrow was. Does someone that young have a true sorrow? “But everyone doesn’t make it here,” I say.

Shayne shakes his head. “And everyone doesn’t deserve to either.”

Charlotte’s dancing back and forth on her feet like she can’t contain herself. “Are you coming, Piper?

I look to Shayne who gives an “I don’t know” shrug.

“Coming where?” I ask.

“The sculpture contest,” Charlotte says. “Meet me there.” And then she runs off before I can say another word. I’m struck by how different our reactions are. She’s acting like we were just hanging out yesterday, and I watched her be buried and have lived six years since.

I turn to Shayne. “Can we go?”

He nods his head toward a giant dune. “We need to check in first.”

We walk over the dune toward a house I haven’t noticed until now. In fact, the more I think about it, the more sure I am that it wasn’t here two minutes ago. Maybe in paradise, things can appear out of nowhere.